If you are a postmenopausal woman with osteopenia, this strange and exotic supplement may be the answer for you.
Shilajit is a sticky, brown to black substances that oozes from rocks in the Himalayas. It is the product of years of plant matter and minerals breaking down. It has been used for centuries as an important supplement in the Ayurvedic medical system of India.
Recent research has shown that shilajit increases collagen synthesis, which could benefit your skin, joints and bone (J Diet Suppl. 2024;21(1):1-12).
This study gave 250mg of shilajit extract, 500mg of shilajit extract or a placebo to 60 postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Osteopenia refers to bone mineral density that is below normal but not yet low enough to be osteoporosis.
While bone mineral density continued to decrease over the 48 week study in the placebo group, it significantly increased on both doses of shilajit. Markers of antioxidant status and oxidative stress as well as markers of inflammation all improved significantly in the shilajit group compared to placebo.
This study suggests that shilajit can help improve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women who are at risk of osteoporosis.
Phytomedicine. 2022 Oct;105:154334.